FREIGHTS ON PRODUCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21979, 14 June 1933, Page 8

FREIGHTS ON PRODUCE

’ NECESSITY FOR REDUCTION TIME LONG OVERDUE. (Peb United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, June 13. A joint meeting of the Exporters’ and Importers’ Committees of the Chamber of Commerce considered the question of freights on produce exported from, tne Dominion and passed a resolution urging that representations should be made to the shipping companies to have a substantial reduction made. The following resoultion was carried:— . “That in view of the following facts: f (a) The general fall in the values of all commodities exported from New Zealand; (b) our products have to compete with those from other sources which are carried at much lower rates of freight, even after -allowing for our geographical handicap: (c) the overseas companies since 1924 have afforded very little relief and none at. all in some cases in freight rates on general cargo outwards, representations be made to the shipping companies with a view to obtaining reductions which are long overdue, and that this chamber affirms as a general principle that the freight rates for general cargo should be left, subject to .ordinary business competition, untrammelled by the restrictions at present made operative in the agreements for the carriage of produce, and goods entered into by the produce control boards.” ; - PROPOSED NEW CONTRACT VALUE OF COMPETITION. ' i ' (Per United Press Association.) HASTINGS, June 13. In view of the negotiations which are proceeding in connection with a new contract for the shipping of primary products, the following resolution was passed by the directors of the Hawke’s Bay Farmers’ Meat Company, and W. Richmond, Ltd.:— “ JThat the directors arc of opinion that, hitherto .the producers of New Zealand have suffered seriously through the absence of any real competition among shipping companies for the carriage <»f produce. We are unanimously and emphatically of the opinion that any opportunity which occurs which may tend to promote more healthy, legitimate competition among shipping companies in the cairiage of New Zealand produce should be encouraged in every possible way, and to the utmost extent, by the Meat Board and all producers’ organisations in the Dominion.”